Paddlers from the Kapiti Mana Area were out in force, as was the wind the blew right down the Country and finally reached Wellington on Sunday. Ngatitoa Domain is always a big hit with the regions paddlers with 60 competing in a range of craft and showing that the Northern Suburbs are the best supporters of our Surf ski and Waka Ama Series races.
Because of "the big wind" today we ran a two lap triangular circuit in the more sheltered confines of the Porirua Harbour and touching into the Pauatahanui Estuary around the State highway one road bridge which gave us a good downwind run and a couple of sections of strong side and headwind near the Northern turn and finish just to keep everyone honest.
The Waka Ama Community have alway been great supporters of ours Series and today we had one of the Sports Legends, Matahi Brightwell, out on the water paddling and steering, Matahi is the Godfather of Waka Ama paddling in New Zealand and he certainly made his presence felt guiding the Gemini crew to first O.C.6 across the line and overall line honours.
As mentioned Gemini took out the O.C.6 mens finishing a good margin ahead of team Fox. The Womens O.C.6 was won convincingly by the Wairere Crew by just over 6 minutes with just a few seconds separating Nga Waka and Team Tracey.
In the O.C 1's Neil O'Brien raced well to finish ahead of Grant Barriball by just over a minute and Anita Taggart toughing it out to finsh ahead of Mereana Mike who finshed 3 minutes back.
In the Sea kayaks, one of the local legends in the multisport scene in Wellington, Brent Harrison showed how it's done finishing just over 5 mintues ahead of one of our Series great supporters Sandy Winterton, who managed to get off the start line this week without an O.C.6 running into him and tipping him out.
On the Surf skis we had Ex pat South Africans, Wil van Breda and Grant Wilson join us, as Craig Anderson said with a gleam, "You guys are from the home of Ocean ski racing." Today the locals managed to keep ahead of them, but this will no doubt change in the near future.
The future generation of paddlers can't be forgotten with the likes of Tuhiwais Krew and Don't touch my food from the Mana Pasifika Club mixing it up with the Senior Crews on the water. Of Course a big thanks to all the Porirua based Nga Waka, Aniuwaru, Toa, Mana Pasifika and Hawaiki Nui Clubs and Kapi-Mana News for spreading the word and giving us the big turnout that we had.
Results:
Race 8, Surf ski and Waka Ama SeriesPorirua Harbour course (10 km)Waka Ama O.C.1 Men: Neil O'Brien 67:08,1; Grant Barriball 68:19,2; John Finch 72:14,3; James Sadler 73:21,4; Pata Brightwell 78:22,5.Waka Ama O.C.1 Women: Anita Taggart 76:24,1; Mereana Mike 79:26,2; Kris Dahl 88:17,3;Waka Ama O.C.6 Men: Gemini 57:51,1; Team Fox 62:53,2;Waka Ama O.C.6 Women: Wairere 70:29,1; Nga Waka Freda's Team 76:38,2; Team Tracey 76:41,2. Waka Ama O.C.6 Junior: Tuhiwai's Mixed Krew 69:01,1; Don't touch my Food 79:06,2.Waka Ama O.C.2 mixed: Dennis Ngatai/Chris Fox 66:10,1; Tuhiwai Hauiti-Parapara/Lisa Barriball 72:23,2. Sea Kayaks Men: Brent Harrison 69:26,1; Sandy Winterton 75:21,2.Ocean Racing Surf ski: Chester Burt 58:11,2; Craig Anderson 61:42,2; Grant Wilson 67:02,3; Wil Van Breda 83:48,4.
Don't forget about the Kayak Rogaine this saturday march 7, 2009 starting at 10 am.
It is based around the Plimmerton, Porirua harbour and Pauatahanui estuary areas.
Craig who paddles surfski with us each race has organised this new event which follows the same principles as a runnng Rogaine.
Basically you get a map of where the checkpoints are, you punch a hole in the map/card using your supplied pointer, you get as many as you can and get back to the start finish line just before the 2 hour mark or you get penalised for every minute you go over.
Check out the website for further details.
http://paddleporirua.pbwiki.com/
craigos@paradise.net.nz for further info also
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